Adam Peaty had to settle for third place in the 100m breaststroke final at the World Aquatics Championships.
The three-time Olympic champion took bronze behind American Nic Fink and Italy’s Nicolo Martinenghi in Doha on Monday.
Peaty is appearing at his first World Championships since 2019 in Gwangju, South Korea, having previously taken a hiatus from the sport to protect his mental well-being and also suffered a freak foot injury in training in 2022.
Peaty is out to win a historic third successive 100m breaststroke gold in Paris this summer, but he had to accept third spot at the worlds.
After qualifying fastest for the final, 29-year-old Peaty did not threaten gold medallist Fink, who led from start to finish.
Fink clocked 58.57 seconds, with Martinenghi second in 58.84 and then Peaty, who has won the event on three occasions, taking bronze in 59.10.
"It's great to race some of the best in the world, and at the same time get used to those heats, semis, finals again," Peaty told Eurovision Sport.
"I think I pushed it a little bit too far in that first 50, but at the end of the day it is good to be part of.
"Massive well done to everyone in that race, because it is definitely not an easy race to do."
